Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Full participation in the 2025 AFP Arizona State Conference is applicable for 5.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Download your tracker here.

8:00-8:45 am

Registration and Breakfast

8:45-9:45 am

Opening Plenary
Ask Less; Raise More
Jeff Hall and Lisa Actor
Jeff Hall and Lisa Actor developed the principles of Servant Fundraising, their donor centric approach to fund development, while seeking support for Lowell Observatory from 2015 through 2024. They credit putting donors’ needs first with raising over $100 million for science research, education, and capital projects, including $54 million for the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center. In this keynote, they will explore how to bring these principles to your philanthropic efforts, bringing meaning and joy to your donors’ giving.

​10:00-11:00 am

Breakout Sessions
​The Do-Gooder’s Attitude: Cultivating a Mindset for Fundraising Results
Laura Alexander, CFRE; Jenny Carrillo, CFRE; Lana Baldwin, CFRE; Lisa Robinson, CFRE 
Do you have the “Do Gooder’s Attitude”?  
To succeed in fundraising, mindset matters. The most effective fundraisers—what we call “Do-Gooders”—are mission-driven, optimistic, and confident in their ability to solve problems. It might sound cliché, but after decades of working with development professionals, we’ve seen it firsthand: attitude is everything. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the emotional highs and lows of fundraising and how to keep your energy positive, your cynicism in check, and your motivation strong. We’ll break down the elements of a resilient mindset—and how to build one. No platitudes, we promise.

With ❤️ and 🙏🏽: Crafting Marketing Emails That Feel Like Personal Notes
Frank Velásquez Jr.
Transform your email marketing game as Frank Velásquez Jr. shares proven strategies to craft messages that feel like personalized notes, resonating deeply with subscribers. Learn how to maintain a genuine voice, master the art of creating subject lines that demand attention, and build a truly engaged community of subscribers. Drawing from his success at 4 Da Hood, where he achieves exceptional open rates using his authentic voice, Frank will demonstrate how to make every subscriber feel personally seen and valued. This session will equip you with practical techniques to turn your marketing emails into meaningful conversations that foster genuine connections.

How to get grants!  
Annagreta Jacobson, GPC
Have you ever been told, "There is so much grant funding out there, why aren't we asking for it?" Are you mystified by the grants process? Have you tried for a grant and become overwhelmed by the application process? This session will provide you with an understanding of how to determine if your organization is "grant ready" and what to expect out of the process to successfully secure grant funding. ​

11:15 am-12:15 pm

Breakout Sessions
AI for Actual Fundraisers: How to Use It Without Losing Your Soul
Alice Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE
You’ve heard the hype, but what does AI actually mean for working fundraisers? In this session, we’ll skip the tech evangelism and get real about how AI can support your fundraising practice—without compromising your values, your voice, or your sanity. We’ll explore how to assess your organization’s readiness for AI tools, what infrastructure you need in place before you automate, and how to spot red flags that signal it’s not time for tech. You’ll walk away with ethical frameworks, use-case prompts, and practical tools that align with your mission—not just the latest trend. This session is designed for fundraisers who are curious but cautious, overwhelmed by options, or simply tired of being told to “do more with less” without real support.

Values Over Valuables: Turning Transactions Into Transformational Donor Relationships
T. Clay Buck, CFRE
Donor retention isn’t just a math problem—it’s a meaning problem. Too many fundraising strategies fixate on the money and miss the mission that donors care about most: their own values. This session explores how fundraisers can build loyalty by aligning asks, stories, and stewardship with what matters to the donor. Grounded in behavioral science, donor psychology, and current retention data, we’ll unpack why people give—and why they stay. Walk away with practical strategies to build transformational relationships that go far beyond the transaction.

The 72-Hour Planned Giving Starter Program
Judith A. Smith, CFRE
Time is what nonprofit staff have the least amount of and what they must budget most carefully.  Because starting a planned giving program may seem like a huge task, many nonprofits assume they simply can’t manage it.  However, with careful time management and utilizing other staff and volunteers, most nonprofits can have a basic planned giving program.  Attend this session for a month-by-month plan of how to get started.

12:30-1:30 pm

Lunch and Keynote
Thriving & Resilient Leadership
Kay Sprinkel Grace, FAFP
Lunch Plenary speaker Kay Sprinkel Grace will aid our digestion by sharing her phenomenal ability to navigate 40 years in our profession and still be enthused, dynamic, insightful and happy.  Her secret:  resilience!  She will share the importance of resilience and 10 things you can do to be more resilient in your workplace and in your life.  Kay is Founder and Principal of Transforming Philanthropy in San Francisco, but works globally to strengthen civil society and the nonprofit sector.

​1:45-2:15 pm

Power Sessions
10 Strategies to Engage Your Board in Fundraising
Lisa Robinson, CFRE
Your board can be your best fundraising asset—if you give them the tools, confidence, and clarity to succeed. In this fast-paced session, we’ll explore 10 practical strategies to increase board engagement in fundraising, tailored to fit the diverse strengths and comfort levels of your board members. Whether you're working with a seasoned group or building a culture of philanthropy from the ground up, you’ll leave with actionable ideas you can implement right away to spark involvement and boost results.

10 Ways (at least) to Screw Up Your Direct Mail
Laura Amerman, CFRE
Direct mail remains one of the most effective, yet misunderstood, tools for fundraising. In this session, we'll discuss some common ways nonprofits do direct mail poorly and how you can fix them. We'll use examples of both good and awful appeals and give attendees a chance to ask specific questions about their direct mail plans.
Participants will learn:
• How to craft an effective appeal
• The critical elements to appeal planning and budgeting
• Basic "donor brain hacks" based on the principles of philanthropic philosophy​
• How to integrate sensible design into your appeal​
• How to advocate for best practices (that are often rejected by leadership)​
• What things to invest in and what things to abandon

Pop the Question: How Curiosity Closes Gifts
Emily Reed, CFRE, CNP
How often do you lead with questions instead of making statements in your fundraising? This session examines how intentional questions can elevate every aspect of nonprofit fundraising—from major gift conversations to mail and email appeals. By shifting from pitching to listening, we'll explore how asking the right questions of donors, leadership, and even ourselves can uncover deeper motivations, sharpen messaging, and strengthen long-term relationships.

2:30-3:30 pm

Breakout Sessions
Strategic Planning When You Don’t Know What’s Next
Richard Tollefson
Ciara Claraty, MA
Uncertainty is the new normal. With unpredictable shifts in federal funding, shrinking government programs, and an ever-evolving philanthropic landscape, nonprofit leaders are facing unprecedented challenges. How do we make smart decisions today while positioning our organizations for sustainability and strength tomorrow? This session explores how to lead with clarity even when the path ahead is unclear. We'll dive into practical strategies for:
• Building and balancing long-term strategic, fundraising, and communications plans, and annual action plans.
• Sustaining and strengthening donor relationships.
• Projecting different financial scenarios.
• Identifying opportunities for diversifying revenue. 
Join us for a dynamic conversation that will equip you with tools, frameworks, and insights to make strategic choices—even when the future is anything but certain.

Fundraising in Times of Crisis: How to Seek Help When You Need a Lot of It
Jennifer Tersigni, CFRE
In today’s unpredictable world, nonprofits are often hit with challenges that seem to come out of nowhere. When funding gets tight, knowing how to ask for help—and get it—can make all the difference between moving forward, standing still, or shutting down. This hands-on workshop focuses on real-life approaches for harnessing expertise and raising money when times are tough. You’ll learn practical ways to spot new opportunities, reach out to potential donors, and build relationships even when the odds feel stacked against you. We’ll look at true stories of organizations that managed to turn things around when they needed it the most. Whether your group is just getting off the ground, looking to grow, or in need of a fresh start, you’ll walk away with tips and actions you can use right away. This session welcomes fundraisers, leaders, and volunteers at any stage of experience. We’re excited to have you join us and help your organization succeed, no matter what comes your way.

You are Not Alone: Battling for Justice and Equality in the Age of Lies and Hate
Jim Anderson, CFRE
Fundraisers, community builders, nonprofit leaders—we are exhausted. We are being asked to do more with less while our missions are being attacked, our values distorted, and our very existence politicized. Government funding is being slashed under the guise of “efficiency,” while lies, disinformation, and cruelty are emboldened. In this dangerous environment, staying silent is not an option—and fighting back requires strategy, community, and courage. This session is not about false hope or performative self-care. It’s about the real work of showing up for our communities in the face of conflict, chaos, and hate. We’ll confront the emotional toll of this work, name the forces working against truth and justice, and share tactics for how we resist—not alone, but together. Whether you're battling budget cuts, online trolls, legislative hostility, or internal burnout, you’ll leave this session with a renewed sense of purpose, sharper tools, abundant hope, obnoxious joy and an unshakeable reminder: you are not alone.

3:45-4:45 pm

Closing Keynote
The Wisdom Era: Embracing the Role of Elders
Chip Conley, Founder, MEA
Alice Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE, facilitator
What if the most important asset fundraisers bring to their work isn’t knowledge—but wisdom? In this virtual, interactive keynote, bestselling author and MEA (formerly Modern Elder Academy) founder Chip Conley joins us from Santa Fe to invite a reframing of our roles—not just as askers or experts, but as wisdom workers. Drawing from his experience helping scale Airbnb as its in-house “Modern Elder,” Chip explores how emotional intelligence, perspective, and intergenerational collaboration can guide us through complexity and change. With space for personal reflection and shared insight, this session reminds us that when the world feels uncertain, wisdom—not certainty—is our superpower.

4:45-6:30 pm

Closing Reception and Mission Inspiration